Cebu City:South Korea and the United States have decided to delay a significant bilateral security dialogue until next year, as Seoul demands the return of wartime operational control of its forces from the Pentagon.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the decision to postpone the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) was reached during an initial meeting between US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul in Cebu City, Philippines. The meeting took place during the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, which also includes defense leaders from China, Japan, Australia, and India, although China's defense minister was notably absent this year.

A statement from the South Korean Defense Ministry indicated that both sides acknowledged the importance of successfully hosting the historic 58th South Korea-US SCM and agreed to schedule the SCM for early 2027. Meanwhile, Kang and Hegseth are set to reconvene in Washington, DC, this December.

Traditionally, the annual SCM occurs in late October or early November. Yonhap News reported that Seoul aims to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) before the end of President Lee Jae Myung's term in 2030, with intentions to announce a target year for the OPCON transfer at the upcoming SCM.

Currently, South Korea is home to approximately 39,000 American troops under a mutual defense treaty. President Lee Jae Myung's administration is committed to regaining command over these forces by 2030. During their meeting, Hegseth reiterated the United States' commitment to the OPCON transition, with both ministers agreeing to collaborate closely to ensure a smooth transition at the appropriate time.